“We’re finally here.” I said, looking out the carriage window.

We were only on the outskirts of Haven, but after weeks of travel, we arrived at the imperial capital at last. Thanks to the warp gate network, it was possible to travel from Haven to Frostheart, and vice versa, in a matter of days. However, maintaining this sort of pace was difficult, so most people took their time rather than push themselves. That was what Lina, Mika, and I did as we traveled south from Frostheart.

Before this, I had been busy preparing for the banquet, attending the banquet itself, and dealing with the plots and schemes of the northern nobles. Lina and Mika pushed themselves to travel from Guld Manor to Frostheart, before getting entangled in House Kaltbrand’s succession troubles as soon as they arrived. In short, the three of us were tired and needed a break. Rather than rush to Haven, we traveled at a slower pace and rested as much as we could during the journey south. All in all, it took us about two weeks to reach Haven.

On the way, demonic beasts attacked us on several occasions, though the Coldsteel Knights and the Gold Rose knights fended them off without issue. After fighting side by side with one another on several occasions, the two knightly orders had grown much closer to each other. Many friendships had formed between knights of both orders, a far cry from how they used to be with each other when we left Frostheart.

I also spent this time catching up with both Lina and Mika. While we talked with each other in Frostheart, dealing with the banquet had taken most of my time and attention. The journey south gave us a chance to rectify that. A lot had happened in the past three years, so we had a lot of catching up to do. I told them some stories from my time as a mercenary, while Lina and Mika shared some of the things that had happened with them. By the end of the journey, it felt like I hadn’t left at all.

As a security measure, Haven had no warp gates of its own. So, during the final leg of our journey, we warped to the nearest city before traveling the rest of the way by carriage. It was almost noon by the time we reached the imperial capital.

Haven was a massive city. It covered a large area, and was home to over a million souls. The city was split into two parts, with an ancient stone wall separating the two. When Haven was first built, the stone wall encompassed the entire city. However, over the centuries, the city grew and expanded beyond its original borders. The area within the stone wall was called the Inner City, or Old Haven. The area outside of the stone wall was called the Outer City.

Of the two, the Inner City was the more affluent part of Haven. Several noble families owned or rented property within the Inner City, and all of the businesses there catered to them. There were also several parks within the Inner City, including one with an artificial lake. In the center of it all was the imperial palace, home the Emperor and his family. It was also the administrative center of the Reichwald Empire. Decisions that affected the lives of everyone in the entire empire were made within its walls.

Everyone else lived in the Outer City, including noble families unable to buy or rent property within the Inner City. I knew less about this part of Haven, since I spent most of my time in the House Guld townhouse located within the Inner City. Still, after living as a mercenary for the past three years and using the cities in the Barrens as a reference, I had a rough idea of what the Outer City was like. Like anywhere else, it was filled with folk living their lives as best they could.

After we reached the outskirts of Haven, it took us another hour to reach the gates leading to the Inner City. The guards were surprised when they saw the crest of House Kaltbrand on the side of the carriage, and it took more time than usual to verify our identities. During the course of all this, we attracted a lot of attention from nobles and commoners alike. Unless the Emperor summoned them, House Kaltbrand almost never left the Barrens. It had been decades since they last came to Haven of their own volition.

In the end, the guards let us through the gates to the Inner City. However, I was certain that they would report our arrival to their superior. It was only a matter of time before word reached the ears of the Emperor himself. The rest of Haven wouldn’t be far behind. Gossip and rumors spread through high society like wildfire. Within a few hours, I expected House Kaltbrand to be the center of a great deal of attention. I didn’t look forward to it.

“Finally!” Mika said as our carriage passed through the gate. “I can’t wait to see everyone. It’s been too long and I miss them.” She smiled at me. “Everyone will be happy to see you as well, Wulfe. We should throw a party to celebrate your homecoming.”

I sighed and shook my head.

“I’m not going to the House Guld townhouse with you and Lina.” I said.

Mika gave me a blank stare, before dismay took its place.

“What?!” she asked. “Why not?”

“I need to go to the House Kaltbrand manor,” I said, “Where I’ll be staying.”

Mika looked crestfallen at this.

“But I thought you were coming to stay at the townhouse with us.” She said in a heartbroken voice.

I gave her a sad smile.

“As much as I would love that, I can’t.” I said. “Now that I’m the heir to House Kaltbrand, there are certain expectations I must live up to. If I stayed at the House Guld townhouse, it would send the wrong message.”

Mika looked at Lina, who maintained a calm and composed expression on her face.

“Did you know about this?” Mika demanded, her tone accusatory.

Lina raised an eyebrow at her.

“Of course,” she said, “And I thought you did too. Things are different from what they were three years ago. Wulfram is now a Kaltbrand as well as a Guld. You should have known how things would turn out from that alone.”

Mika pouted.

“I did.” She said. “I just hoped that all of us would be together again.”

I reached over and grasped one of Mika’s hands in my own. It felt small and delicate.

“We will,” I said, “Just not today. Barring any incident, I’ll be able to visit the House Guld townhouse tomorrow.”

The thought filled me with anxiety and fear. It was hard to let go of one’s deepest held beliefs. Despite reassurances saying otherwise, a part of me still felt that I was a fake, an imposter, who didn’t belong with House Guld. What if Father and Mother rejected me? What if they turned me away for being a Kaltbrand instead of choosing House Guld? I tried to ignore these thoughts, but it was difficult.

“Do you promise?” Mika said, giving me a skeptical look.

“I promise.” I said. “Now then, first we’ll stop at the House Kaltbrand manor. From there, you’ll head to the House Guld townhouse.”

Mika frowned.

“Why bother with all that?” She asked. “Why not just drop us off at the House Guld townhouse?”

“I’m afraid of running into another member of the family.” I admitted. “Father and Mother in particular. I’m…Well, I’m not ready to face them yet. I need time.”

That was the real reason for the delay. I needed to prepare myself before I met with the rest of my adopted family. Understanding lit up in Mika’s eyes as she realized this.

“I see.” Mika said.

“This will also give us time to prepare something for Wulfram’s return,” Lina pointed out, “Which is the main reason why I agreed to this when we made our plans back in Frostheart.”

A smile spread across Mika’s face.

“You’re right!” She said with excitement. “We’ll have to throw the biggest, most fabulous party for Wulfram.”

Her excitement was so infectious that I couldn’t help but smile.

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“I look forward to it.” I said.

----------------------------------------

Several minutes later, our carriage arrived at the entrance to the House Kaltbrand manor within the Inner City. From there, we went our separate ways. Lina and Mika boarded another carriage, before heading off to the House Guld townhouse. I watched them go until they were out of sight. Afterwards, I directed my carriage towards the House Kaltbrand Manor.

It was a two-story building that occupied a large plot of land. Well, large by city standards, where space was at a premium. A stone wall surrounded the entire property, hiding it from prying eyes, with a wrought iron gate serving as the front entrance. My carriage entered through the front gate and headed towards the manor itself.

I took this opportunity to examine the place through the window. The gardens surrounding the manor were simple and bare bones. As for the manor itself, it looked like it was in good condition. However, an air of disuse had surrounded it, as if it hadn’t seen much human activity for a long time.

My carriage stopped in front of the main building and I got out. Sir Kane and Maria, who had been riding with the driver, hopped down and fell in behind me. The manor’s servants waited for me, standing in two neat rows. There weren’t that many, only two dozen or so. At their head stood the butler and the housekeeper, the two most senior servants.

None of them looked like they were from the Barrens. Instead of black hair and blue eyes, most of them had brown hair, with a few blondes here and there. The color of their eyes varied, but most had brown eyes. I assumed they were all natives of Haven and the Crownlands. After spending three years in the Barrens, I was used to being surrounded by people who shared my hair color and eye color. It felt odd to stand out again. At least I had the Coldsteel Knights with me.

However, what surprised me the most was how young everyone was. The oldest among them were the butler and the housekeeper, who looked like they were in their early thirties. Everyone else was much younger than them. One of them, a maid, looked like she had just barely reached adulthood. Were they all new hires? I would have to ask to make sure, but it seemed so.

As soon as I got out of the carriage, the servants bowed to me as one. Despite their youth, they were disciplined and well-trained. I took that as a good sign. Even though no one from House Kaltbrand had lived in this place for a long time, the servants hadn’t slacked off in their duties.

“I greet you, Lord Wulfe.” The butler said. “I am Baron Erwin Kurz, the butler of Kaltbrand Manor.” He gestured to the housekeeper standing beside him. “This is my wife, Simone.”

“It is an honor to meet you, Lord Wulfe.” Baroness Kurz said. She gave me a polite but warm smile.

I nodded to them.

“It is a pleasure to meet you both.” I said, returning the smile. “I’ll be in your care for the foreseeable future.”

Baron and Baroness Kurz seemed surprised by my warm greeting, but not unpleasantly so. They must have expected me to be cold and indifferent. It wasn’t an unfair assumption. Many northerners came across as standoffish to anyone not born and raised in the Barrens.

“Would you like to rest while the servants deal with your belongings?” Baron Kurz asked.

While that tempted me, there was something I needed to do first.

“Not just yet.” I said. “I need to inspect the manor first. If we’re going to participate in the social season, we’ll need to host some events here. I want to make sure that everything is up to par. We wouldn’t want House Kaltbrand to lose face now, would we?”

The servants broke out into excited murmurs, before a look from Baron Kurz silenced them.

“Is it true then?” Baroness Kurz asked, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. “Is the Grand Duke coming to Haven for the social season? We heard the news, but we didn’t dare believe it. It’s been so long.”

I nodded.

“Yes,” I said, “Along with my mother, the Grand Duchess.”

Baroness Kurz just about swooned with excitement.

“Oh, finally!”

“Simone!” Baron Kurz whispered, before giving me a contrite look. “I apologize for my wife’s behavior, Lord Wulfe.”

I shook my head.

“There’s no need to apologize.” I said. “I know that House Kaltbrand has neglected this place for some time now. Your wife’s excitement is understandable.”

Baron Kurz’s eyes widened for a moment, before he relaxed. It appeared that my words had put any lingering apprehension he had to rest.

“Thank you for your understanding, Lord Wulfe.” He said. “If you would follow me, I shall give you a tour of Kaltbrand Manor.”

I nodded and we proceeded to do just that. Sir Kane followed along, keeping an eye on our surroundings. Baroness Kurz, aided by Maria, directed the servants to handle my luggage.

Baron Kurz led me around Kaltbrand Manor, giving me a brief history of the place as he did so. The manor wasn’t large, so the tour didn’t take too long. It had more than enough space for the social events I had in mind, including a ballroom and a banquet hall. However, even a cursory glance told me that a lot of work needed to be done before Kaltbrand Manor would be ready to host guests.

The manor was clean and well maintained, but a lot of the furnishing and decorations were old and outdated. Some were priceless antiques that just needed to be refurbished, but we would need to throw out and replace everything else. Maybe Lina could help me. I could do it myself if necessary, but my knowledge was three years out of date. Not only that, but Lina had always been better at this sort of thing. She had a good eye for beauty and value.

“What do you think, Lord Wulfe?” Baron Kurz asked after we finished the tour.

The two of us, along with Sir Kane, stood within Kaltbrand Manor’s ballroom. It was smaller than the one in Kaltbrand Castle, yet it felt empty and lifeless in comparison. Small windows let in a weak amount of sunlight and the air smelled stale.

“It needs a lot of work, but it has potential.” I said, glancing at Baron Kurz. “You and the other servants did well in keeping this place in good condition, despite my family’s neglect.”

Baron Kurz seemed pleased by this.

“Thank you.” He said. “Though I can’t take all the credit. My uncle was the previous butler of Kaltbrand Manor. He was the one who maintained this place for all these years. My wife and I only came into our current duties about five years ago.”

I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Was your uncle also the previous Baron Kurz?” I asked

Baron Kurz nodded.

“Yes.” He said. “He never married, so he passed his title to me when he retired.”

Ah, so that’s how it was. Well, this was as good a time as any to indulge my curiosity.

“Baron Kurz,” I said, “I noticed how young all the servants here were. Why is that?”

The Baron nodded, as if he expected that question.

“Ah, that’s because they’re all new hires.” The Baron explained. “Until recently, we kept just enough people to maintain Kaltbrand Manor. However, last year, we received orders to hire and train new servants. At the time, I wasn’t sure why, though now I know.”

I nodded. The timing fit. When Dad found out about my existence, he must have made preparations for this day. I snorted. Just when I thought I had him figured out, he kept on surprising me. Compared to him, I was an amateur when it came to planning ahead. Though, in my defense, he found out that I was his son long before I did.

“I assume you vetted all of them,” I said, in a low voice, “To ensure none of them are spies.”

One of the easiest ways to plant a spy in a noble’s household was to send them in as a servant. This was why one needed to be careful when hiring new people.

“Yes.” Baron Kurz said, his expression serious. “We hired people with… humble backgrounds, to minimize the chances of one of them being a spy. Not only that, but we investigated them thoroughly before hiring them.”

I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Humble backgrounds?” I asked. “What do you mean by that?”

Baron Kurz hesitated before answering.

“Orphans.” He said. “Single mothers who lost their husbands. Young men and women from the slums trying to earn extra coin to help their families.”

Hmm, so that was the reason for his hesitation. Most noble families hired servants with a certain amount of status. Few noble families hired people from the lower rungs of society. Part of it was prejudice, but part of it was practicality.

A person who had experience dealing with and serving nobles had an advantage over someone who didn’t. They knew how to act, what to expect, and required less training. The oldest and most influential noble houses often had entire families who had served them for generations. For House Kaltbrand, House Holtz was one such family.

However, while hiring someone from a more humble background and training them came with its disadvantages, it also came with its own advantages. There was less of a chance of them being a spy. Also, giving them a chance to improve their station in life helped ensure their loyalty.

“While they may come from humble backgrounds,” Baron Kurz said, nervous, “The new hires are loyal and hard working. I’m sure you will see that for yourself, if you give them a chance.”

I almost chuckled. Baron Kurz must have misinterpreted my silence as displeasure. However, unlike many nobles, I had no prejudice against those from humble origins. After all, I spent most of my childhood living as an orphan.

“You don’t have to worry, Baron Kurz,” I said, “I won’t hold anyone’s origins against them. If they are as loyal and hardworking as you say, then I see no reason not to keep them on.”

Baron Kurz looked relieved at that. However, at that moment, one of the other servants arrived with a message.

“A man is here to see you, Lord Wulfe.” The servant said. He looked nervous, but otherwise maintained his composure. “He says that Lady Lina Guld sent him here to be your personal servant.”

I raised an eyebrow at that. Back in Frostheart, Lina wanted both Rosalind and Maria to become maids for her and Mika. While she claimed that she had grown attached to the twins, it was clear that she didn’t like the idea of me having women as my personal servants. However, I relied on the twins for many things, so I only parted with Rosalind.

As a compromise, she asked that I take on someone of her choosing as a personal servant. I agreed. Yet, during the entire trip south, Lina never brought it up again. I assumed she wanted to wait until we reached Haven, and that assumption proved right.

“Very well,” I said, “Bring him to the heir’s study. I’ll see this man for myself.”

The servant bowed, before heading off to obey my orders.

“Baron Kurz,” I said, “Could you find Maria, my maid, and send her to the heir’s study? After that, you may go ahead and resume your duties.” I glanced at my bodyguard. “Come along, Sir Kane. Let us see who Lina sent me.”